Ralf Brooks'
Villa St.-Jean Remembrances
1963-1965

Tournament Medallion presented to Villa Saint Jean 1965 Saint Jean II Basketball Team

SKIING

Trips to a variety of ski destinations in Switzerland continued for the 1965-1966 school term. As in the previous year, more often than not, I ended up skiing with Paul Allen. We generally didn't plan this out in advance, we semed to like the same sort of hills and were about the same ability and we just seemed to meet on the slopes and end up skiing together.

On the topic of skiing one event has stayed with me all these years. One weekend, a ski trip was organized by Ormes Survaillant Bill Wilson. I've forgotten where it was that we were to go to, but I can remember all of thinking that it was spectacular. Well the Friday night before our Saturday morning departure, after lights out, there was a near riot in the Ormes dorm -- with shouting and pillow throwing. And this was not just one or two isolated students -- it was well near the whole dorm. This had never happened before and for the life of me now I can not remember the reson for it. I guess it was a whole group of hyper excited 11 and 12 year olds letting loose. Well Bill Wilson, whose room was just across the hall, woke up and came storming in red with obvious rage yelling for everyone to shut up -- and by the way the ski trip the next day was off. To say we were depressed was an understatement. Some of us the next morning tried to talk him out of it to no avail. He looked at our "riot" as a personal afront. We spent the entire weekend -- both Saturday and Sunday -- in detention. Well -- we never had a night like that again -- so I guess he made his point. Strange the things one remembers....

BASKETBALL

As in the previous year, I played a lot of basketball. We had a St Jean II team but I guess it was not cool enough to warrant pictures in the yearbook. We had fun though and that's the memory I have.

Phys Ed

During the school day we had a Phys Ed class several times a week. Soccor, calesthetics etc... What I do remember is that Brother Murguia was our instructor -- and he was a no nonsense, serious sort of guy that one did not want to cross.

As in the 1964-1965 school year, once during the term we had a track and field day where ribbons were awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers.